Themison of Laodicea

Themison of Laodicea (Greek:Θεμίσων; fl. 1st century BC) was the founder of the Methodic school of medicine, and one of the most eminent physicians of his time.

Themison was a native of Laodicea in Syria, and a pupil of Asclepiades of Bithynia. Nothing more is known about the events of his life except that he seems to have travelled a great deal; as he mentions Crete and Milan, apparently as an eye-witness. Neither is it certain if he ever visited Rome, though it is perhaps more probable that he did so. He differed from his teacher on several points in his old age, and became the founder of a new sect called the Methodic school (Methodici), which long exercised an extensive influence on medical science. He wrote several medical works, but in what language is not mentioned; of these only the titles and a few fragments remain, preserved principally by Caelius Aurelianus, for example: Libri Periodici; Epistolae in at least nine books; Celeres Passiones in at least two books; Tardae Passiones in at least two books; Liber Salutaria; De Plantagine.